49 USC § 33102 - Theft prevention standard for high theft lines

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s33102"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 33102 - Theft prevention standard for high theft lines"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "33102"
section_name: "Theft prevention standard for high theft lines"
chapter_number: 331
chapter_name: "THEFT PREVENTION"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND REQUIREMENTS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1077.)"
---


# § 33102. Theft prevention standard for high theft lines

**(a)** **General.—**

**(1)** The Secretary of Transportation by regulation shall prescribe a vehicle theft prevention standard that conforms to the requirements of this chapter. The standard shall apply to—

**(A)** covered major parts that manufacturers install in passenger motor vehicles in lines designated under section 33104 of this title as high theft lines; and

**(B)** major replacement parts for the major parts described in clause (A) of this paragraph.

**(2)** The standard may apply only to—

**(A)** major parts that manufacturers install in passenger motor vehicles having a model year designation later than the calendar year in which the standard takes effect; and

**(B)** major replacement parts manufactured after the standard takes effect.

**(b)** **Standard Requirements.—** The standard shall be practicable and provide relevant objective criteria.

**(c)** **Limitations on Major Part and Replacement Part Standards.—**

**(1)** For a major part installed by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, the standard may not require a part to have more than one identification.

**(2)** For a major replacement part, the standard may not require—

**(A)** identification of a part not designed as a replacement for a major part required to be identified under the standard; or

**(B)** the inscribing or affixing of identification except a symbol identifying the manufacturer and a common symbol identifying the part as a major replacement part.

**1** **Records and Reports.—** This chapter does not authorize the Secretary to require a person to keep records or make reports, except as provided in sections 33104(c), 33106(c), 33108(a), and 33112 [^1] of this title.

See References in Text note below.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1077.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 33102(a)(1) | 15:2022(a). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 602(a), (b), (c)(1)–(3), (5), (d)(2); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2756. |
| 33102(a)(2) | 15:2022(c)(1)–(3), (5). |  |
| 33102(b) | 15:2022(b). |  |
| 33102(c) | 15:2022(d)(1). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 602(d)(1); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2756; restated Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 302(1), 106 Stat. 3394. |
| 33102(d) | 15:2022(e). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 602(e); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2756; Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 306(a), 106 Stat. 3397. |

In subsection (a)(1), before clause (A), the words “in accordance with this section” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (a)(2), the text of 15:2022(c)(1)–(3) is omitted as obsolete because the standard has already been prescribed. See 49 C.F.R. part 541.

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

, referred to in subsec. (d), was repealed by , , .